Sliced meat package



R. GUYER SLICED MEAT PACKAGE July 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Shee t 1 Filed April2, 1954 I I INVENTOR' Reyna/pl; Guz er' BY EU 0% ATTORNEY July 22, 1958R. GUYYER SLICED MEAT PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1954INVENTOR ATTORNEY- United States Patent SLICED MEAT PACKAGE ReynoldsGuyer, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company,Ramsey County, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application April 2,1954, Serial No. 420,490

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-87) This invention relates to an improvement in slicedmeat package useful in the packaging of bacon and similar meat products.During recent years it has become increasingly popular to package slicedbacon and similar sliced meat in packages. One of the requirements ofsuch a package is that it must be low in cost so as not to addmaterially to the, cost of the product. Another requirement is that themajor portion of the strips be visible to the purchaser. Anotherdesirable feature is to cover the lowermost strip of the overlappedstrips so that only an edge of each strip is visible. The package mustalso have sufiicient area for bending and the like so that the productmay be easily identified.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a packagefor sliced meat such as bacon or the like which obviates previousdifficulties and meets the requirements listed. In addition, the packageis easily packed and may be closed and sealed with a minimum ofefiort.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a packagehaving a back panel capable of supporting the meat and adjoining panelswhich overlie an end of each strip as well as the uppermost strip of theseries. As a result portions of the strips are concealed and anadvertising area visible to the customer isprovided.

A feature of the present invention lies in providing a package of thetype described which may be economically formed by dovetailing twoblanks together. One blank dovetails with another so that a generallyrectangular sheet is employed for the formation of two blanks with aminimum of waste stock.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of ablank which is generally L-shaped in form, the base of the L includingabacking sheet and an adjoining panel and the stem of the L forming astrip capable of overlying and concealing one end of each stripcontained. The arrangement is such that a rectangular sheet ofcellophane or a similar enclosing sheet may' be adhered to the blank,the sheet of easily bendable ma-- terial and extending beyond at leasttwo ends or edges of the blank.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a prospective view of a package of bacon or the like inclosed position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the package is formed.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of two blanks in dovetailed relation.

Figure 4 is a prospective view of a sealed package showing a modifiedform of construction.

Figure 5 is a prospective view of the reverse side of the package shownin Figure 4.

' 11 of cellophane or similar material.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the packageshown in Figures 4 and 5 is formed. Figure 7 is a diagrammatic viewshowing two bla in dovetailed relation.

The bacon package isshown in general by the letter A and may be used forpacking other material, particularly strips of meat or the like. PackageA includes a blank 10 of paperboard or similar material and a liner Thetwo materials are vsecured together in a manner which will be later moreclearly described.

A paperboard blank 10 includes a backing panel 12 which is generallyrectangular in shape and which is connected along one edge by a foldline 13 to an edge wall 14 which is relatively narrow. The edge wall 14is connected along a fold line 15 to a cover panel 16 which is designedto engage along an edge of the contents. While the edge wall 14 isuseful and desirable, it may be eliminated if desired and the coverpanel 16 may be connecteddirectly to the bottom panel 12.

An elongated strip 17 is foldably connected along the edge of the basepanel 12 offsetting that to which the edge panel 14 is connected. Thisstrip 17 is connected to the base panel along a fold line 19. The end ofthe strip 17 is preferably provided with a locking tongue 20. The coverpanel 16 is provided with a locking slot 21 into which the tongue 20 mayengage to hold the package closed.

The liner 11 is preferably rectangular in shape and connected along oneedge 22 to the cover panel 16 along a generally rectangular line ofconnection 23 which is inwardly of the margins of the panel 16 andspaced from the slot 21. The edge 21 is preferably approximately flushwith the free edge of the panel 16. The sheet or liner 11 is alsoconnected to the base panel 12 along a generally U-shaped area or lineof connection 24, the edge of the liner nearest the edge panel 14 beingfree of adhesive contact. a generally U-shaped line 25 of connection,the liner preferably being free along the end of the strip 17 nearestthe fold line 19. The edge 26 of the liner 11 which is parallel to theedge 22 thereof preferably terminates short of the locking tongue 20.The parallel side edges 27 and 29 of the liner 11 are preferablyparallel to the side edges of the bottom panel 12 and are outwardlytherefrom to provide laterally projecting portions.

In the packaging process the bacon is sliced from its slab so that thestrips fall in overlapping relation, one edge of each strip projectingbeyond the corresponding edge of the next adjoining strip. The propernumber of strips to produce the desired weight are placed upon theportion of the liner 11 overlying the back panel 12. The opposite edgesof the liner 11 are next folded along lines parallel to the side edges27 and 29, the lines of fold substantially coinciding with the edges 30and 31 of the blank 10. The cover panel 16 is next folded to overlie theuppermost strips of the series, the liner protecting the product fromcontact directly with the paperboard. The end of the liner nearest theedge 26 is next folded together with the strips 17 and the inwardlyfolded side edges of the liner to overlie the material on the panel 12.The tongue 20 is then inserted into the slot 21 to lock the packageclosed.

As an alternate method of closing the package the panel 16 may first befolded to overlie the edge strips of the series and the strip 17 and theadjoining end of the liner is then next folded over the panel 12, thestrip being of proper length to slightly overlap the cover panel 16 sothat the tongue 20 may be engaged in the slot 21. If desired the edge 26of the liner may be tucked beneath the panel 16, the liner 25 ofadhesive being spaced sufficiently from the blank tongue to permit thisThe liner 11 is also connected along action. This closes the packagewhile the side edges 27 and 29 of the liner are projecting laterallyfrom the blank in doubled condition. These projecting ends of the linermay then be folded beneath the panel 12 and secured together and to thepanel bottom by heat sealing or other suitable means. In Figures 4through 7 of the drawings I disclose a modified form of constructionwhich differs from the previous construction in that the package issomewhat more effectively sealed. In this arrangement the paperboardblank is indicated in general by the numeral 32 and the liner isindicated by the numeral 33. The blank 32 includes a bottom or backingpanel 34 connected along one edge 35 to an edge wall 36 which isfoldably connected along a parallel fold line 37 to a cover panel 39Along a side edge of the blank is provided a strip 40 connected to thebottom panel 34 along a fold line 41. The strip 40 is connected along afold line 42 to a locking tongue 43. The fold lines described areparallel and the edge panel 36 may be eliminated if desired.

One end of the cover panel 39 is connected to a laterally extendingstrip 44 along a fold line 45. A second parallel fold line 46 connectsthe strip 44 to a locking tongue 47. A locking slot 49 is provided inthe backing panel 34 to maintain the tongue 47 in folded condition and alocking slot of aperture 50 is provided in the panel 39 foraccommodation of the locking tongue 43.

The liner 33 is generally rectangular in shape having one edge 51substantially flush with the free edge of the panel 39. A generallyrectangularv line of adherence 52 secures the liner 33 to the panel 39and a generally U-shaped area of adhesive 52 secures the liner to ,thepanel 32. A third U-shaped line of adhesive 54 secures the liner to thestrip 40. The locking tongue 43 projects beyond an end of the lineropposite that which is substantially flush with the edge of the panel39. The locking tongue 47 also projects beyond the side edge 55 of theliner 33, this edge as well as the opposite edge 56 being spaced fromthe side edges of the back panel 34.

This package may be sealed in a manner similar to either of thearrangements previously described. The strips of bacon or similarproduct are placed upon the portion of the liner 33 overlying the basepanel 34. The side edges 55 and 56 of the sheet may next be foldedinwardly to overlie the ends of the strips. The panel 39 is then foldedto overlie an edge strip of the series. The locking tongue 47 may thenbe engaged in the locking slot 49. The upper portion of the liner may befolded to overlie the goods, the marginal edge of the liner being tuckedbeneath the panel 39 if desired. The locking tongue 43 is next engagedin the locking slot 50 to complete the closing operation.

If desired the marginal edges of the sheet may be folded beneath theback sheet and adhered thereto although a substantially tight package isaccomplished without such a seal.

As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings the packages are so arranged thatin the formation of the blanks the elongated strip 17 of one blank liesalongside of the base panel of a second blank and the strip 17 of thesecond blank lies along an edge of the first blank. As a result 4 thetwo blanks may be produced with little waste and the projecting stripwill still provide a means of controlling the easily foldable liner.

A similar arrangement is shown in Figure 7 in which the strips 46 andtongues 47 are cut in the corners of the rectangular sheet Which wouldotherwise be stripped away. Similarly in the form shown in Figure 3 thetongues may be extended to fold over the edge wall of the package andlock in the bottom panel. However, this arrangement is somewhat moredifficult to lock as it usually requires inverting the package before itis sealed.

The portions of the liner adhered to the blank are spaced from thelocking tongues and locking slots so that the tongues may be insertedbetween the liner and the blank adjoining the locking slots.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my sliced meat package and while I haveendeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of thefollowing claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

A package for bacon and the like, the package including a rectangularsheet of flexible lining material and a blank of relatively stiffpaperboard secured thereto, the paperboard being cut and creased toprovide a rectangular base panel, a generally rectangular cover panelhingedly secured to one edge of the base panel and extendingsubstantially the full length of said one edge, said cover panel, whenfolded over said base panel, covering only the marginal portion thereof,leaving the major portion of the base panel exposed, an edge panelhingedly secured to the base panel edge opposite said one edge and beingof a width substantially less than the length of said edges, said edgepanel, when folded to overlie said base panel, having an edgeregistering with an edge of said base panel and leaving the majorportion of the base panel exposed, a locking tongue on the end of thesaid edge panel and cooperable locking means on said cover panel, saidedge panel overlapping said cover panel in folded condition of saidflaps, said lining sheet extending laterally beyond the remaining edgesof the remaining edges of said base panel with edges of the lining sheetparallel to the edges of said base panel, and alocking flap hinged to anend of said cover fiap and foldable beneath said base panel, andincluding cooperable locking means on said base panel engageabletherewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,088,570 Hedden Feb. 24, 1914 1,198,032 Henze a Sept. 12, 19162,033,526 Kinkenon Mar. 10, 1936 2,439,568 Hall Apr. 13, 1948 2,465,841Bonini Mar. 29, 1949 2,481,380 Anderson Sept. 6, 1949 2,565,976 MayerAug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,914 Germany July 7, 1921

